Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt — embroiled in controversy for renting a luxury condo at dirt cheap price from Washington lobbyists — didn't leave when his lease ended and the owners had to change the locks on him, Politico reported on Friday.
According to the political news website, Pruitt was only supposed to be living in the Capitol Hill condo he rented the condo from health care lobbyist Vicki Hart, whose husband, J. Steven Hart, is an energy lobbyist, for six weeks last year while he got settled in Washington.
"Instead, he asked the lobbyist couple who became his disgruntled landlords to revise his lease several times, according to two people with knowledge of the situation," Politico's Eliana Johnson writes.
"The couple, Vicki and Steve Hart, became so frustrated by their lingering tenant that they eventually pushed him out and changed their locks. After trying to nudge Pruitt out of their home over the course of several months, the Harts finally told Pruitt in July that they had plans to rent his room to another tenant."
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that chief of staff John Kelly told Trump last week he thinks Pruitt needs to be fired over allegations that he violated ethics guidelines. Trump has thus far stood by Pruitt, who has cut regulations during his time at the EPA.
Pruitt is also under fire over his over-the-top luxury travel arrangements and significant raises that were given to two EPA officials.
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